New mayors coming for Cazenovia, Hamilton

Uncontested races for mayor in Cazenovia and Hamilton will usher new leaders into both villages with substantial municipal experience.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, June 21, 2011 in the two villages, where current mayors are stepping down, opening the post to longtime trustees.

Cazenovia Mayor Tom Dougherty said he wrestled with the decision.

“I truly feel bad walking away from unfinished projects, but when the current projects are behind the village there will be more to take their place,” he said in a letter to voters. “There will never be the perfect time to leave, and our current board is fully capable of meeting the challenges that lay ahead.”

Dougherty served as trustee from 1994 to 2004 before running for mayor. During his tenure, the responsibilities of the local board grew.

“My first board meeting lasted 15 minutes,” Dougherty said. “I was coaching a Little League game, and I left during the second inning and was back before the end of the game.”

His replacement, Kurt Wheeler, has served as vice-mayor for the past two years.

Wheeler said his initial focus will be promoting economic development and creating a long-term plan to address aging infrastructure.

The latter issue has been apparent recently with the closure of Clark Street bridge due to lack of federal and state funding. Traffic problems have resulted, particularly for parents bringing children to Burton Street Elementary School.

“This is the big challenge that small governments have to deal with all across the country,” Wheeler said.

“We could shrug our shoulders and say it isn’t our responsibility, but that doesn’t fix anything,” he continued.

He hopes to share his experience with students at Cazenovia High School, where he teaches social studies, government and politics.

In Hamilton, trustee Margaret Miller is running unopposed to replace current Mayor Sue McVaugh, who spent six years at the village helm.

“It will be a challenge, but also interesting and hopefully a bit of fun,” said Miller, who has served as trustee for six years.

Miller compared Hamilton to a small city, with its own airport, police force, hospital and university.

“It is a challenge to grow while keeping our unique character,” she said.

Her first job will be orienting new trustees to their positions. Four candidates are running for two seats on the village board: Meredith Leland Getchonis on the Democratic line, Samuel L. Cooper on the Republican and Your Voice lines, and Anne R. Clauss and Deborah S. Kliman on the Bull Thistle party line.

The polls will be open noon to 9 p.m. Cazenovia voters will cast their ballots at the American Legion Post on Chenango Street; voting in Hamilton will be at the Hamilton Public Library on Broad Street.